Sometimes, everyone sits in front of that annoying blinking cursor trying desperately to think of the perfect topic to write about. That’s part of the problem. First, realize that there is no perfect topic.

Only how well you write about whatever you choose as your topic. When you stop trying to find the “just right” topic, you relieve the anxiety plaguing you. Take that nasty critic off of your shoulder.

Here are some new approaches to generating blogging topics along with some tried and true strategies that work!

1. Reddit

Reddit is a treasure trove just full of ideas waiting for you to unearth them. Do you know Reddit? If not, visit them now! It is full of highly interesting things people around the world learned.

You can find out some fascinating things that you didn’t already know. Look for “TIL,” standing for Today I Learned. Start discovering blog-worthy ideas now.

2. Bottlenose

If you don’t know Bottlenose, you should. It is your guide to what’s trending now in social media. It’s a great overview of the conversation online. For example, if you know you want to blog about weight loss but lack ideas.

Type “weight loss” in the “search” box. Voila! You gain access to major conversations and questions people ask about weight loss. Hopefully, you can provide some of these much-sought answers.

3. Look at popular social discussions around opinions on a popular blog.

You can look at one of your popular blog posts or someone else’s. See what readers say about it. Use that as a springboard into a completely new blog. You can also pose a question of a LinkedIn group. It works.

4. Look at your customer’s questions.

Which questions tend to come up often? Pick a good one that more than one customer has asked you or someone else. You’ll likely see the same question again.

Create a topic that answers frequently asked questions on your site. Get creative and answer questions at the same time. Plus, your customers will be flattered that their concerns were blog-worthy to you and keep coming back to see what you do next.

5. Invite a Great Guest Blogger.

Why do you think late-night TV is so popular? People keep coming back for the guests and hosts combined. Try this combination for yourself. Find someone big in the industry you’re writing about.

Perhaps look for public speakers on your topic or a professional who might contribute their expertise. Find someone who doesn’t just say what you like to hear. Rather, someone who expresses their opinion very well in print.

6. Read your competitor’s blogs.

How can you make your blog better if you don’t know your competitors? Everyone must take this essential step in business to improve their own niche. Satisfy lacks in the conversation. Do what their blog doesn’t.

6. Follow Hashtags for inspiration.

There are millions of conversations going on every day that will give you a general tenor of the thinking out there in the blogosphere. You can find these by turning to Twitter to find trending topics right now. Search for and follow Twitter hashtags that are relevant to you. Tweet your own chat topic idea—or a few. See which ones generate a buzz.

7. Google Alerts

You can give Google Alerts keywords. You can even tell GA how many stories to send you a day focused around these keywords. It’s a great way to stay abreast of current trends and conversations about your topic.

8. Read the Trades.

As a food or wedding blogger, you should subscribe to the best trade pubs in your specific niche. These are great ways to stimulate your imagination. Other imaginations spur on our own.

9. Look at industry conferences in your specialty.

CAA, for example, has a magazine for caterers they publish monthly building up to their annual conference. That is a veritable blog stockpile of ideas with every issue. From how to tent a wedding when it rains to what’s new in wedding cakes. It’s a unique, effective way to generate ideas.

10. Try another Medium.

If you start tiring of browsing the web, you can always try a new medium. Surf YouTube or Netflix documentaries.

11. Bring your unique position to a popular blog.

Using Google Analytics, look at, perhaps, the most popular blogs, even from this month. Also, you can use the site Delicious to find blogs by topic on food, fashion, culture, history, current events, or celebrities. The possibilities are endless!

If you play with Technorati for a while, you can do more. Technorati comes closer to giving you top blog topics than any search engine can. Start familiarizing yourself with all blog search engines and tools so you can have the most popular blog on the web next year.

12. Think about your own areas of interest.

Some of the most popular how-to blogs are on crafts and how to make things. People love to make things. They want to know new, unique things to create.

How-to blogs on recipe methods are highly popular. Ree Drummond’s blogs are consulted daily by home chefs across the world. Now, she has her own TV show from her Pioneer Woman Cooks blog.

13. Write a sequel or “Part 2” blog to your own post!

Over time, you gain new ideas on a topic that you already shared. Especially one that users responded enthusiastically to. Even better, especially if inevitable. Use this inspiration to fuel a new blog.

14. Question your readers.

Ask them to give you their opinions on an issue you’re undecided about. While struggling to make your own four-layer cake, ask for feedback from pro and home bakers alike. This involves your readers. You may make some lifetime friends as well.

15. Review your favorite book.

Other lovers of this book can post. You may find some great connections with people who share your passions.

16. Do a product review.

Think of a product you’re currently really content with in terms of quality or one that completely disappointed you. Recommend and “un-recommend” these products. Users appreciate you saving them money.

17. Pick your favorite social media tool. 

Try sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Look at readers’ questions. Pick your favorites. Then, write a blog about one or two questions on the same theme.

18. Curate List Posts.

Invite your readers to participate in list-making. It’s a great way to get ideas for new blogs or to generate conversations. People love lists. You enjoy reading them. You can get scads of new topic ideas to boot.

For example, “10 Things That Make Me Most Happy,” “Top 10 Mysteries of Existence,” “What I’m Reading Now,” “Some Funny Things I’ve Heard,” and so on.

19. Riff on an old or even recent idea.

Begin with an old blog post topic, like “10 Things You Can Learn About Your Customers on Facebook.” Now, tweak it. Narrow it. Focus it.

For example, make it, “10 Things You Can Learn About Your Customers via Twitter or Quora.” Also, change the scope. Start with, “10 Marketing Ideas Using Social Media.” Then, try “10 Marketing Ideas Using Twitter.”

20. Narrow the general timeframe to a more specific one.

Take one of your or someone else’s posts on “The History of Facebook.” Narrow it to the much more interesting “What’s New with Facebook in 2014.” Look for much too broad topics like “Social Media and Business.” Narrow those to “How Social Media Revolutionized Business for Consultants.”

21. Do a link round-up.

Pick some other great blog posts you find relevant. Share those with your readers by linking them to your blog. Most of them can do the same for you and increase traffic to your site.

22. Turn someone on to your favorite craft

Do How-to Posts about this craft and where to find the best craft supplies. I thought I knew about every craft until I discovered a beautiful, art blog on the art of ribbon embroidery and stumpwork.

I was sold! Both on instruction books and on the materials to buy them. Remember what linking does for your blog, right?

Conclusion

The only limit to finding new blog topics is the amount of energy you’re willing to put into it. Topics swirl all around you. Reach out and grab one!
———————————————
Links Web Design is a Website Design Company in Bangor, Maine.